Waterways and learning not to squander your city

It’s now quite common to hear people complain about city living, to bemoan the ugliness of high-rise architecture and lament life amongst undesirable townsfolk. Just last week I was speaking to a man (who will remain unnamed) who “sympathised” with me for living in Lincoln – because he knew what types of “people” came from “there”.

In his defence, there are rough parts of Lincoln, just as there are rough parts of any city or town. But what he, and what a lot of other people don’t seem to appreciate these days, is that Lincoln enjoys a location in a very beautiful part of the country – and is connected quite readily to some very nice areas to explore.

Even though I could defend Lincoln’s marina, or its cultural quarter, or the West Common, there seems to be a startling lack of appreciation of Lincoln’s extensive waterways, brought about by its Roman, Viking and industrial heritage.

The Brayford pool is the junction of two major waterways. To the East and also to the South, the River Witham can be followed through miles of marshy fenland and vast expanses of peaceful Lincolnshire countryside. The Fossdyke Canal Trail to the West, which eventually leads to the River Trent, has a strong claim to be the oldest canal in Britain. The flat landscape around these waterways afford spectacular sunsets and rises.

We’ll be travelling these rivers to give you an idea of just how close to nature, and how beautiful, a city like Lincoln can be.